12 X 12 Oil on Canvas

I wanted to create a nativity painting from the perspective of Mary. I'm not sure what new mothers did at the time that Mary lived to prepare for their baby's arrival, but I have no doubt that she did them.

While creating this piece, I thought about what new mothers of our day do to prepare for their coming babies. Things such as preparing a bed, maybe a nursery room, collecting the things the baby might need, even picking out a special outfit or blanket to wrap their new child in on that special day. They may also thoughtfully plan what people they want to surround themselves with to support them through labor.

When the day came to deliver, all Mary's physical preparations were spoiled. The new baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, not a warm soft cradle. They were in a shelter meant for animals, not the comfort of their own home. This must have been incredibly frustrating.

However, when we strip away these physical preparations, we have to focus on the spiritual preparations that were also surely done. God trusted Mary to bear His Son - the Redeemer of the world. And Mary trusted God's plan for her. This relationship is not built by accident. She had prepared room in her heart for the Savior long ago.

Each of us gets to prepare for our Savior's coming. My hope is to be prepared like Mary was, to say "I have been waiting for you. This is your home. This is where you belong."

Original artwork of Oil on Board 12 x 12. Painted 2024. Framed at 14 x 14.

Shown at the a Night in Bethlehem 2024 held at Havenlight's gallery Frameworks at University Mall in Orem, Utah.